US2093474A - Continuous pumping unit - Google Patents

Description

S. A. W. OKELL ET AL CONTINUOUS PUMPiNG UNIT Sept; 21, 1937.

Filed June 19, 1956. 3 Sheets-Sheet l S. A. w. OKELL ET AL CONTINUOUS PUMPING UNIT Sept'. 21, 1937.

3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1936 N NV. ww mv nV 5 YH. J fi WW A w 4 Q mv A m Q MN g NN w mm RN mm b u W R Nw R m ma aw I ENTORS ATTORNEY$ Sept. 21, 1937. s. A. w. OK'ELL ET L CONTINUOUS PUMPING UNIT Filed June 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 323 wit; an; M 2&5

GQIIZIX' E TQRS W BY M W ATTCRNEYS zwmo w Nat mw Y W W Patented Sept. 21, 1937 iJNi'iZE Di STATES attain PATENT @i'F h-i QB CONTINUOUS PUMPING UNIT Application June 19, 1936, Serial No. 86,090

20 Claims.

Our present invention relates to pumping mechanisms and aimsto-provide a device of the general character indicated, which is simple in construction, easyand economical to fabricate and assemble, and adapted to deliver a continuous discharge.

In the accompanying specification we shall describe, and in the annexed drawings show, an illustrative embodiment of the pumping mechalO nism of the present invention. It is, however, to be kept in mind that We do not wish to be limited to the exact details herein described and shown for purposes of illustration only, inasmuch as changesmay be made in the details of construction without the exercise of the inventive faculties, and within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Before describing our invention in detail, we deem it advisable, briefly, to referto the prior art in the field to which the present invention befindsparticular use in connection with the refining of sugar. In such operations, sugar liquor in a supply tank has thoroughly mixed therein a decolorizing medium, such as a highly activated vegetable carbon. The mixture of liquor and carbon is generally pumped to a filtering device containing a plurality of filter leaves, and the liquor passes through these leaves, which are of fine mesh, thecarbon becoming deposited upon the leaves in the form of acake, and absorbing the impurities from the liquor as the latter passes therethrough. It has been necessary in the past to use either a pneumatic ejector or a centrifugal pump for delivering the liquor and carbon suspended therein from the supply tankto the filtering device. The pneumatic ejector operates in a discontinuous manner; that is, after it has delivered a certain quantity of liquor, its operation ceases while it is being refilled and it does not again pump liquor until it has become filled. During the refilling operation, there is a drop in the pressure in the line between the pump and the filtering device, and this results in the carbon cake dropping off the filter leaves. The disadvantages of such operations are believed to be obvious, and require no further discussion here.

The use of centrifugal pumps presents other disadvantages. For one thing, it is difiicult to use pumps of this character in connection with vegetablecar'bon suspensions for the reason that a the pump impellers due to the high velocity of the metallic moving parts against the liquid containing the suspension For another thing violent mechanical agitation,such as is obtained by using centrifugal pumpsbreaks down the fiocs 5 of the suspension which causes-a condition of dispersion v or deflocculation, thus preventing the attainment of a high filtration rate.

These disadvantages are eliminated by means of the pumping mechanism ,of the present inven- "10 tion, by means of which we obtain an even; con? tinuous flow. Other advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to those skilled in the art to which'thepresent. invention relates E as the detailed description thereof progresses. 15

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the pumping mechanism of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view, partly in elevation, taken along line 2:2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken along line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse sectional View,

' taken substantially through the center of a valve housing constituting. part of the present .in- '2 vention;

Fig. 5 is avertical, sectional view, taken along line 55 .of Fig.4;

Fig. 6. isa similar view, taken along line 66 of Fig. 4; 0

Fig. 7 is a schematic view, showing the manner in which the pumping mechanisms of thepresent inventionare hooked up in apumping system; and.

Fig. .8 is a graphic chart,showing the proper 5 chronological order of the operationsof the various parts of .thepumping mechanisms of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail, to the aforesaid illustrativeembodiment of the pumpingrnecha- 40 nism of the present invention, and with particular reference to Figs. 1 to ,6 inclusive of .the drawings, the letters A and B generally designate, cylindrical tanks of any desired capacity provided with covers it and, H. The covers are respectively 45 provided with housings l2 and 53 opening into the tanks through the covers, and adapted to enclose the upper ends of float rods I l-and l5, carrying at their outer ends floats. A and B. The latter are adapted to rise and fall within the 50 tanks A and B in accordance with the quantity of liquid therein, and in order to obtain the greatest capacity from the tanks, the covers It) and II thereof are further provided with domes I6 and H, which are receptive of the floats A and B 55 when the latter are in their uppermost positions.

The housings l2 and l3 are provided with stuffing boxes I8 and I9, and glands 29 and 2|, and journalled in the stuffing box l8, extending within the housing l2 where it is afiixed to the upper end of the float rod I4, is a shaft 22, and journalled in the stuiiing box 2| to extend within the housing l3 where it is affixed to the upper end of the float rod I5, is a shaft 23. The outer end of the shaft 22 is journalled in a bearing 24, and the outer end of the shaft 23 is journalled in a bearing 25.

Fixed upon the shaft 22 intermediate the gland 2|] and bearing 24, are cranks 25 and 21, and fixed upon the shaft 23 intermediate the gland 2i and bearing 25 are cranks 23 and 29. The cranks 29, 21, 28 and 29 are respectively pivotally connected with connecting rods 39, 3|, 32, and 33, each of which has its outer end upturned to support a sliding collar designated in the drawings at 34, 35, 36 and 31.

Communicating with the interior of the tanks A and B through the covers 3 and H adjacent the domes l6 and H, are pipes 38 and 39, which pipes are adapted to support valve blocks 49 and 4|, and at the same time communicate with a manifold 42 with which each of the blocks is provided. Inasmuch as each of the valve blocks 49 and 4| are similarin construction, only one of the same will be described in detail, reference being had particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The manifold 42 communicates with vertical passages 43 and 44, the former communicating with an air vent 45, and the latter communicating with an air inlet 49. Traversing the vertical passages 43 and 44, are horizontal openings 41, and each of the openings 4'! is adapted to house a piston valve, four of which are shown in the drawings, designated at 48, 49, 59 and 5|. The valve 48 is the vent valve of the tank A and the valve 49 is the air inlet valve of the same tank while the valve 59 is the air inlet valve of the tank B and the valve 5| is the vent valve of the same tank.

Each of the valves 48, 49, 59 and 5| is provided with an annular groove 52, adapted, when the valves are operated within the blocks 49 and 4|, to register with the vertical passages 43 and 44, thus opening or closing the communications between the atmosphere and the interior of the particular tank or the source of compressed air and the interior of the particular tank.

Before describing the details of the mechanism of the present invention any further, it is thought that a better understanding of the coming description will be had if at this point the manner of hooking up the pumping mechanism of the present invention is referred to.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, there is shown an inlet pipe 53, which communicates with a source of supply of liquor, and which leads to a manifold 54, provided with a check valve 55 for the tank A and 55 for the tank B. Beyond each check valve, the manifold communicates with the tanks A and B. The tanks are provided with an outlet manifold 51 including check valves 58 and 59, beyond which the manifold communicates with a discharge pipe 69. A source of compressed air, such as the compressor 6| communicates through the pipe 62 with a manifold 93, which branches off so as to communicate with the passages 46 of each of the valve blocks 49 and 4|, the passage 45 of each of such blocks communicating merely with the atmosphere.

Resuming the detailed description of the mechanisms of the present invention, each of the valves 48, 49, 59 and 5| is provided with a central longitudinal opening 64 adapted to receive valve operating rods 55, 99, El and 68, and respectively slidable on each of these rods are the sliding collars 34, 36, 35 and 37.

Upon the outer end of each of the rods 55, 6'0, 5'! and 68, there is fixed a collar 59, the purpose of which, as will be more fully understood from the description of the operation of the present invention, is to operate the valves 49, 49, 59 and 5| in one direction. Fixed upon the rod 95, with the sliding collar 34 intermediate the same, is a pair of collars T9 and 1|. Fixed upon the rod 66 with the sliding collar 36 intermediate the same, is a pair of collars l2 and 13. Fixed upon the rod 6'! with the sliding collar 35 intermediate the same, is a pair of collars l4 and I5; and fixed upon the rod 68 with the sliding collar 3'! intermediate the same, is a pair of collars l6 and H.

Inasmuch as it is necessary that the pumping mechanisms of the present invention function smoothly and continuously, it is desirable that the valves 49, 49, 59 and 5| operate with a snap action. For this purpose, we provide each of such valves with a toggle arrangement 78. Inasmuch as all of the toggle arrangements are the same, we shall describe only one. Affixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the valve blocks 45 and 4|, adjacent each valve, are flat springs 79 and 89, the inner ends of which are bent, as at 9|, to support toggle members 92 and 33. The inner ends of the latter engage a grooved collar 94 fixed upon the corresponding valve operating rod. By means of such arrangement, as the valve operating rods 65, 69, 51 and 98, are moved in either direction, the toggle members 92 and 83 are moved toward their vertical positions and the slightest movement beyond such vertical position-s, known as dead center, causes the springs l9 and to move the valve operating rods with a snap action in the same direction. This in turn operates the corresponding valve.

In order that the discharge from the tanks A and B be continuous, it is necessary that the floats A and B of the tanks A and B operate the air valves 49 and 59 to close the same, but, the opening of said valves must be performed by the opposite tanks; that is, the opening of the valve 49 must be performed by the float B of the tank B and the opening of the valve 59 must be performed by the fioat A of the tank A. In order t carry this out, there is afiixed to the collars l9 and i5 arms 85 and 96, the outer ends of these arms being provided with openings larger than the diameter of the rods 66 and ti, so that they may freely slide along the same.

This completes the description of the mechanics of the pumping mechanism of the present invention, and the structural operation thereof is as follows:

Assuming that the tank A is almost full of liquor and is in the .act of discharging the same, at such time the float A will be descending, and the shaft 22 to which. such float is attached, will be rotating, so that the crank 29 will push the connecting rod 39. This motion causes the sliding collar 34 to move along the rod 95 so that it impinges upon the arm 95 fixed to the collar l9. As the float A continues to descend, the vent valve actuating rod 55 is pushed through the piston valve 48, and the outer end of the arm 85 slides upon the valve operating rod 69, and impinges upon the fixed collar #2.

Thus both col- 4 the toggles l8 of the valves 58 and 39 reach their dead center positions. At thisinstant, the toggles trip and causethe collars it] and T2 to be moved forwardly with a snap action to actuate i the valves 58. and' iaopening the former and closing the latter. As the air escapes from the tank A through the pipe 38, manifold 42 and openings [13 and t5, the pressure within such tank drops and a fresh charge of liquor from the source of supply passes through the pipe. 53, manifold 5t, past the check valve 55 and into the tank A. As the fresh charge enters the tank A, the fioatA rises. As the float A rises, the crank 2'5 pulls the sliding collar 34 backwardly until it impinges upon the fixed collar ll. This causes the. vent valve operating rod 65 to be moved backwardly until, when the tank is full, the toggle E8 of this particular (valve trips again in the opposite direction, andcloses the vent valve it. However, as

the collar ill moves backwardly' under the action of the rising float A, the arm 85' backs away from the fixed collar l2, thus leaving the air inlet valve 439 of the tank A in its closed position. It will, therefore, be seen thatwhile the arm 85 acts to close the air inlet valve 29', it does not open this valve.

, The opening of the air valve id on the tank A is effected by theaction of the float B of the tank B. When the tankB is on its pumping stroke and the float B is descending, the crank 28 on the shaft 23, which is operated by the fioat B, pulls the connecting rod 32 which causes the sliding collar 3% to move along the rod 6% to pullthe fixed collar #3, thus causing the valve operating rod tit to be moved in the. direction of the tank B. At a predetermined time,.this movement causes the toggle E8 of the valve A9. to reach its dead center position after which it trips, and causes the valve tt'to open. Inasmuch as both tanks A and B are constructed exactly the same, and are connected with each other through theirrespective valve mechanisms in exactlythe same manner, the cycle? of operations just described, is exactly the same for the valves 50 and 5! of the tank B. V

This completes the description of the operation of the mechanics of the pumping mechanism of the present invention, but it is thought that a more thorough understanding of the same will be had by referring to the graphic chart shown in Fig. 8' of the drawings.

In this figure, the center of the shaft 22 of the float A of the tank A is designatedby the reference character 883, and the are through which the center 9} of the float A travelsis also indicated. On the right of this view, the. center of the shaft 23 which carries the fioat B of the tank B is indicated at 92 and the arc through which the center t t of the float B travels is also indicated. The illustration at the top of this View indicates the operation. of the valves 5! and 5% of the tank B and the illustration at the bottom of this view indicates the operation of the valves A9 and A8 of the tank A. In the central illustration of this View intermediate the arcs of the floats A and'BK-it is indicated the height of the liquid in either or both of the tanks, at any instant, the time units being plotted'as abscissae,

and the depths of the liquid in the tanks as ordinates; The full line indicates the depth of the liquid in the tank A and the broken line indicates the corresponding depth in the tank B.

Starting from the left of this illustration, it is to be noted that both tanks are pumping until the points 9A and 98.

the. pointof time indicated by the reference charthe rate at which it was pumping, as indicated by thesteeper slope of the graph between the point-s95 and 9%. The tangent of the angle made by the line betweenthe points 95 and 96 with the horizontal is exactly twice the tangentjof the angle: made by the; line between the point 91, which'was the start of the pumping stroke of the tank B; and point 95 which was the point at which time the tank A stopped pumping. t is to be noted that the tank A reaches the top of its filling stroke at the point98, and the rate of filling is considerably greater than the rate of pumping as indicated by the slope of the graph between This is easily arranged by making the intake pipes to the pumps of larger bore than the discharge pipes.

When the point 98 is reached it will be noted that the tank B is still pumping alone, and that the. tank A remains stationary in a filled position, as indicated by the graph, between thepoints 98 and 953.. By adjusting the fixed collars on the valve rods, it is possible to arrange the operation of the pumping mechanism of the present invention so that either of the tanks will open the air valve of the other tank and start the pumping at any desired point toward the end of the stroke of the tank which is approaching the end of its stroke at that time. Thus when the tank B reaches the point 96, substantially less than A; of'its stroke from the lower limit, .the air valve of the tank A is opened with the result that tank A starts pumping from the point (i9 and continues until the point llltis reached, at which time the tank B has reached the point ml corresponding to the. end of its pumping stroke. From the point M .tothe point Hit the tank A is pumping at half its normal rate, and correspondingly from the point 9% to the point lll'l the tank B is pumping at half its normal rate. However, at the point lili t'he'tank B finishes pumping and starts to fill so that from the point 188 on the tank A pumps at double its rate.

These cycles are repeated'and it will be understood thatinasmuch as at least one tank is alof the tank B and the illustration of the operation of the valves of the tank A are projected from the center illustration. In the upper illustration, there is shown two sets of three horizontal lines, corresponding respectively to the operation of the vent and air valves of the tank B, the median line of each setof three lines corresponding to the dead point of the toggle of the particular valve. The outside lines'of each set show respectively the opened and closed positions of the valve, while the distance between the two outside lines corresponds'to the total travel of the toggle of the particular valve.

The toggle travels for half of its total distance slowly which brings it at the dead point. Thereafter it travels substantially instantane'ouslyfor the remaining half of its distance. This is graphically represented on the chart, where, for example, at the point I02, the toggle of the vent valve 55 of the tank B begins to be pushed slowly to its dead point indicated at I03. At this instant, the toggle trips, and the instant opening of the valve Si is effected, as indicated by the short vertical line intermediate the point Hi3 and the point EM. The time period during which the valve 55 remains open is indicated by the horizontal line between the point I04 and the point H15, and thereafter the toggle starts to be actuated in the opposite direction as indicated by the sloping line from Hi5 and the point I66. Upon reaching the point Hit, the toggle snaps past the dead point, and the valve 5| closes, this being indicated by the short vertical line between the point I06 and the point Nil. Exactly the same cycle of operations takes place for the rest of the valves, and hence a detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Referring now to the two diagrams showing the arcs through which the floats A and B travel, it is to be noted that the angular position of the lines til-9i or 9293 is determined by projection from the points 94, 98, 99, I00, etc. Similarly, from any given angular position of the float rods of the. floats A and B, the corresponding depths of liquid in the particular tank can be ascertained by projecting in the opposite direction. For example, if it is desired to determine the angular position of the float A of the tank A at the instant when it begins to move the toggle for opening the valve 59 of the tank B, it is to be noted that this operation begins at the point 8. The corresponding level of the center of the float A, is obtained by projecting vertically downward from the point I98 until the vertical line intersects the graph representing the tank A at the point IE9. Projecting horizontally to the left from the point H19, we intersect the are which indicates the locus of the center of the float A of the tank A at the point llil. This is, therefore, the point at which the center of the float A of the tank A is located when it begins to actuate the toggle of the air valve of the tank B. Similarly, by projecting downward from the point I l i, the graph of the tank A is intersected at the point H2, and projecting from this point horizontally, we get the point H3 on the arc of the float A. By joining the points H0 and M3 to the center 90, there is obtained the angle. through which the float rod of the float A moves during the whole of the operation of the opening of the air valve 50 of the tank B. By utilizing these various calculations, the size of the cranks and connecting rods, and the points at which the fixed collars should be positioned on the valve operating rods can readily be determined.

This completes the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and the operation thereof. It will be noted from such description that the pumping mechanisms of the present invention are simple in construction, easy and economical to fabricate and assemble, and result in a pumping unit whereby there may be obtained an even, continuous discharge. Other advantages of the device of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks,

and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to open and close. the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, and open the air inlet of the other tank.

2. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging thereof, to close the air outlet of its own tank, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the discharging thereof, to only open the air inlet of the other tank and open the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank.

3. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks-and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks, then open the air inlet of the same tank, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of the other of said tanks.

4. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks at the end of its own charging stroke, then open the air inlet of the same tank as the other tank nears the end of its discharge, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of said second tank when the latter reaches the end of its discharge.

5. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to open and close the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, and open the air inlet of the other tank, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks,

valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves.

6. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source. of supply I and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging thereof, to close the air outlet of its own tank, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the discharging thereof, to only open the air inlet of the other tank and open the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves.

7. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an. air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one outlet and close the air inlet of the other of said tanks, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves.

8. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet/and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks at the end of its own charging stroke, then open the air inlet of the same tank as the other tank nears the end of its discharge, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the-air inlet of said second named tank when the latter reaches theend of its discharge, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustand discharging into a common outlet, an air "inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks,

and means, associated with each of said tanks and-operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to'open and close the air outlet and. only close the air inlet of its own tank, and open the 'air inlet of the other tank, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets, valve operating rods associated with said valves, a plurality of collars fixed upon said rods at predetermined points, and connections intermediate said floats and said rods, operable by said floats, slidable along the length of said rods andcooperable with said collars to actuate said valves. 7

.10. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply anddischarging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, means, associated with each of said-tanks and operable by the charging thereof, to close the air outlet of its own tank, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the discharging thereof, to only open the air inlet of the other tank and open the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets, valveoperating rods associated with said valves, a plurality of collars fixed upon said rods at predetermined points, and connections intermediate said floats and said rods, operable by said floats, slidable along the length of said rods and cooperable with said collars to actuate said valves.

11. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks, then open the air inlet of the same tank, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of the other of said tanks, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets, valve operating rods associated with said valves, a plurality of collars fixed upon said rods at predetermined points, and connections intermediate said floats and said rods, operable by said floats, slidable along the length of said rods and cooperable with said collars to actuate said valves. v

12. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively-close the air outlet of oneof said tanks at the end of its own charging stroke, then open the-air inlet of the same tank as the other tank nears the end of its discharge, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of said second named tank when the latter reaches the end of its discharge, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets, valve operating rods associated with said valves, a plurality of collars fixed upon said rods at predetermined points, and connections intermediate said floats and said rods, op-

erable by said floats, slidable along the length of said rods and cooperable with said collars to actuate said valves.

13. In a device of the class described, a tank having a liquor inlet and a liquor outlet, an air inlet for receiving compressed air to the interior of said tank to eject the liquor therefrom, an air outlet for venting the compressed air to the atmosphere to permit refilling of said tank, valves controlling said air inlet and air outlet, and means, operated by the rise and fall of the liquor in said tank, for opening and closing said air outlet valve, but only closing said air inlet valve, in combination with means operatively coupled with said first-named means for opening said air inlet valve.

14. In a device of the class described, a tank having a liquor inlet and a liquor outlet, an air inlet for receiving compressed air to the interior of said tank to eject the liquor therefrom, an air outlet for venting the compressed air to the atmosphere to permit refilling of said tank, valves controlling said air inlet and air outlet, and means, operated by the rise and fall of the liquor in said tank, for opening and closing said air outlet valve, but only closing said air inlet valve, said means including a float operable within said tank, a valve-actuating rod associated with each of said valves, a plurality of collars fixed on said rods at predetermined points, connections intermediate said floats and said collars, and means, secured to one of the collars carried by the rod of said air outlet valve, engageable with one of the collars carried by the rod of said air inlet valve when the rod of said air outlet valve moves toward said valves open position only, in combination with means operatively c0upled with said first-named means for opening said air inlet valve.

15. In a device of the class described, a tank having a liquor inlet and a liquor outlet, an air inlet for receiving compressed air to the interior of said tank to eject the liquor therefrom, an air outlet for venting the compressed air to the atmosphere to permit refilling of said tank, valves controlling said air inlet and air outlet, and means, operated by the rise and fall of the liquor in said tank, for opening and closing said air outlet valve, but only closing said air inlet valve, said means including a float operable Within said tank, a valve-actuating rod associated with each of said valves, a plurality of collars fixed on said rods at predetermined points, connections intermediate said floats and said collars, and an arm,

secured to one of the collars carried by the rod of said air outlet valve, having an opening at its outer end to permit its sliding along the length of the rod of said air inlet valve, engageable with one of the collars carried by the rod of said air inlet valve when the rod of said air outlet valve moves toward said valves open position only, in combination with means operatively coupled with said first-named means for opening said air inlet valve.

16. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged-from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to open and close the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, and open the air inlet of the other tank, each of said means including a float operable Within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves, said floats, valves and adjustable connections being oppositely disposed.

1'7. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging thereof, to close the air outlet of its own tank, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the discharging thereof, to only open the air inlet of the other tank and open the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves, said floats, valves and adjustable connections being oppositely disposed.

18. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging there-'- of, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks, then open the air inlet of the same tank, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of the other of said tanks, each of said means including a float 0perable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves, said floats, valves and adjustable connections being oppositely disposed.

19. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to successively close the air outlet of one of said tanks at the end of its own charging stroke, then open the air inlet of the same tank as the other tank nears the end of its discharge, and thereafter simultaneously open the air outlet and close the air inlet of said second named tank when the latter reaches the end of its discharge, each of said means including a float operable within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets and adjustable connections intermediate said floats and said valves, said floats, valves and adjustable connections being oppositely disposed.

20. Pumping mechanism comprising, a pair of tanks charged from a common source of supply and discharging into a common outlet, an air inlet and an air outlet for each of said tanks, and means, associated with each of said tanks and operable by the charging and discharging thereof, to open and close the air outlet and only close the air inlet of its own tank, and open the air inlet of the other tank, each of said means including a float operable Within each of said tanks, valves controlling said air inlets and outlets, valve operating rods associated with said valves, a plurality of collars fixed upon said rods at predetermined points, and connections intermediate said floats and said rods, operable by said floats, slidable along the length of said rods and cooperable with said collars to actuate said valves, said floats, valves, collars and connections being oppositely disposed.

STANLEY A. W. OKELL.

WALTER F. DEMMERLE.

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